Carolina, Kentucky In Limelight Ncaa’s Two Winningest Programs Leave Minnesota, Arizona In Shadows
In a perfect world, many people would welcome an NCAA men’s championship game matching Kentucky and North Carolina, the two winningest college basketball programs of all time. The defending national champions Wildcats against Dean Smith, fresh off setting the record for coaching victories.
In fact, on the eve of today’s national semifinals, the folks from Minnesota and Arizona are convinced no one wants them around very much.
But the past two weeks of tournament play have been anything but neat and orderly, which is one reason the Wildcats - even with forward Allen Edwards scheduled to return after missing two games with a injured ankle - and Tar Heels should beware when they take the floor at the RCA Dome.
“When an opportunity opens up you have to be mature enough to step in,” North Carolina guard Shammond Williams said in describing his team’s rise from the dregs of the Atlantic Coast Conference in January to the 16-game winning streak that has propelled them here.
“I’m surprised we’re here in many ways,” Smith said Friday.
Indeed, the Tar Heels, who have for the most part played only six players during the tournament, aren’t perfect and Williams’ words aptly describe Arizona’s chances.
A victory by Arizona - particularly over Smith, who is making his 11th Final Four appearance (one fewer than John Wooden’s record of 12) - would be vindication for coach Lute Olson. He constantly brays about a lack of respect, but he is still seeking his first victory in Final Four play.
He has a 26-18 NCAA Tournament record and three previous Final Four appearances but his quest for acceptance is hindered by the fact that eight of those losses have occurred in his team’s first game of the tournament.
“I’m sure the talk about not winning in the tournament gets to him more, but it bothers us, too,” said forward Michael Dickerson. “After all, it really comes down to us - we’re the ones on the court during those games.”
Minnesota’s chances may hinge on junior point guard Eric Harris’ tender left shoulder. Harris suffered a slight separation during the Golden Gophers’ regional semifinal against Clemson. Team trainer Roger Schipper said Friday the shoulder needs one to two weeks to heal completely. Coach Clem Haskins added that if the team had played Friday, Harris would have been unable to go. For his part, Harris said Friday afternoon he “felt great, but you can never tell - it can stiffen up at any time.”
Harris said he feels pain mainly when he shoots, which isn’t as important for Minnesota as his ability to help break Kentucky’s pressure defenses with the dribble. Harris said he will be ready for the task “as long as I don’t get crazy and erratic.”
Minnesota’s strength is that it doesn’t have a single focal point. Nine players average between 12 and 31 minutes a game.
“As long as we have the goal of winning the national championship still in front of us, stuff like playing time isn’t a problem,” said guard Quincy Lewis. “If we win it all, no one is going to say later, ‘You won the national championship but you only played 12 minutes a game.”’
xxxx TODAY ON TV Both games on CBS North Carolina (28-6) vs. Arizona (23-9), 2:42 p.m. Minnesota (31-3) vs. Kentucky (34-4), 35 minutes following.